▲ Medal winners in Oslo: Diego Villarreal, Daniel Ochoa, Ana Illanes, Omar Astudillo, Rogelio Guerrero and Leonardo Cervantes. They are accompanied by their coaches and the Mexican ambassador to Norway, Ulises Canchola.Photo courtesy of WMO
From the Editorial Office
Newspaper La Jornada
Saturday July 16, 2022, p. eleven
The Mexican team that participated in the 63rd International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO) in Oslo, Norway, won two silver medals, four bronze medals and broke a record by obtaining a total of 167 points, the highest figure ever achieved in the 35 years that the country has been attending what is considered the most important pre-university competition in the world in that specialty.
Daniel Ochoa from Tamaulipas was only one point away from winning the gold and won a silver medal, as did Omar Astudillo, originally from Huitzuco, Guerrero. The bronze medal winners are: Rogelio Guerrero, from Aguascalientes; Diego Villarreal, from Nuevo León, and Ana Illanes and Leonardo Míkel Cervantes, both from Mexico City.
By country, Mexico ranked 23rd out of 110 nations, and is third in Latin America, after Brazil and Peru. The host country, Norway, was placed 61st.
The award ceremony was held at the Oslo City Hall, the same venue where the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony takes place.
The president of the organizing committee of the IMO, Geoff Smith, called for young mathematicians not only fight for honor, but also to contribute to an international community, beyond borders, religions and politics. Always in favor of peace, solidarity and human rights
.
Just over 600 students participated in an emotional reunion, after two years of virtual competitions due to the covid-19 pandemic.
The Ukrainian Ihor Pylaiev got a thunderous applause, who made a perfect exam and, of course, the special recognition received by the Chinese team, whose six members also solved the six problems of the exam without a single error, unseating the so-called dream Team
American, who had achieved that feat in 1994.
Most exceeded their expectations, which is a reflection of the enthusiasm that mathematics can provoke in the new generations, the organizers said.
the mexican team they have a very consistent job behind them, because those who train them before were competitors; So, it is a great joint achievement in which from parents to university professors participate, it is a triumph of Mexican society
indicated the Mexican ambassador to Norway, Ulises Canchola, who attended the award ceremony.
The Mexican team was accompanied by the head of the delegation, Enrique Treviño, and professors Maximiliano Sánchez and David Torres, all of them members of the coaching staff of the Mexican Mathematics Olympiad (OMM).
The first time that Mexico competed in an IMO was in 1981, then its assistance was suspended until in 1987 the Mexican Mathematical Society decided to promote the national educational program of the WMO. In the IMO, Mexico has achieved to date four gold medals, 30 silver, 76 bronze and 40 honorable mentions.
